Endorsements

"...I fully support the work of Fields in Trust and I am very encouraged by the aims of the Queen Elizabeth II Fields Challenge. Playing fields are an important community resource and are crucial to promoting individual and community well being and this campaign provides local authorities and communities in Wales with a very positive opportunity to get involved and make a difference."

Alun Ffred Jones AC/AM

"Fields in Trust’s Queen Elizabeth II Fields Challenge is helping to deliver the most fantastic legacy from the Diamond Jubilee and the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. What's more, their London Legacy Fund is awarding grants of up to £10,000 and helping protect sports pitches and playgrounds right across the capital. I encourage all the Boroughs to get involved with the Queen Elizabeth II Fields Challenge and take advantage of this chance to make our precious outdoor spaces even better."

Boris Johnson, Mayor of London

We are proud that our recreation ground became the first Queen Elizabeth II Field in Kent meaning that the people of Wingham will always have somewhere to go and something to do. Sport and recreation is such an important part of our village life so we’re delighted to be marking the events of 2012 by joining the Fields in Trust programme in protecting and celebrating our playing field.

Bryan Curtis, Chairman, Wingham Parish Council

I have been very pleased with the way our QEII Field nomination has been handled, and the grant funding has been invaluable

Chris Edmonds, Lifton Parish Council

I am very pleased that our grant application for £25,000 for new play equipment at Nevill Park has been confirmed by SITA Trust as successful. This is a tremendous success for us and all down to the Fields in Trust QEII Fields Challenge to whom we are hugely grateful for this otherwise unachievable benefit. I can’t express my enthusiasm for this project strongly enough. If a parish or Town has an area they want to see protected then this is the scheme for you, and the people at Fields in Trust do almost all the hard work. The spin off is the success we have had in getting funding for new play equipment, but that opportunity is there for all Fields in Trust. Why wouldn’t you do this!

Cllr. Anne Moloney, Chairman, Snodland Town Council

Our large Hangstones sports field is now protected and recognised as a QEII Field. This has helped to engage our community more in the use of the field and will enable us to apply for funds for a new path to make our play area more accessible for all.

Crispin Taylor, Clerk to Yatton Parish Council

"Our outdoor spaces are vital for the health of our communities and nurturing our future sports stars. Securing local facilities for sport, play and recreation for future generations would be a fantastic way to celebrate Her Majesty’s Diamond Jubilee and mark the 2012 Olympics."

Dame Mary Peters, 1972 Olympic Gold Medallist Pentathlon

says: “Playing Fields have a vital role within our communities and are fundamental for generations of young boys and girls to be able to start playing and enjoying football. I am delighted to support the Queen Elizabeth II Fields Challenge in honour of her majesty’s Diamond Jubilee and I urge all local authorities to support this ambitious scheme, that will provide a legacy for future generations”

David Bernstein, FA Chairman

"The opportunities that playing fields provide to young people are fundamental in building sporting enthusiasm and this is a brilliant campaign to help our future athletes. I would not be where I am now without having access to my local playing field."

Derek Redmond, Gold Medallist & Record Holder 400m

"Playing fields are the life blood of communities and I have lobbied for better protection of them for many years. So I’m delighted to see the launch of the Queen Elizabeth II Fields Challenge. This initiative is a chance to guarantee permanent protection for outdoor spaces across the country. I hope Fields in Trust are successful in achieving this ambitious aim."

Don Foster, Liberal Democrat MP for Bath

"Having free use of outdoor space will encourage more physical activity and so help reduce our worrying levels of childhood obesity, making this a great initiative for the future health of our children."

Dr Christian Jessen, Channel 4's Supersize vs Superskinny

"The DofE encourages young people to get fit and enjoy the outdoors. We need to protect the precious spaces available for outdoor activity to ensure future generations can benefit too. The QEII Fields Challenge is a great initiative which we are delighted to support."

Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme

I’ve always thought of this initiative as an opportunity in a lifetime – considering the last time was 1936. I’m amazed that more Councils have not recognised this and being a parks manager, I am pleased that with the support of local Councillors and the community, I have been able to play a part in protecting Eastbourne’s valuable parks, gardens and recreation grounds for future generations.

"Playing fields play a vital role in our communities and I am thrilled to see the launch of this fantastic new initiative. What better way to mark both the Diamond Jubilee and the London 2012 Olympics than by ensuring future generations will have access to space for sport and play."

Hugh Robertson, Minister for Sport and the Olympics

It is a great idea to protect our open spaces in perpetuity, I think the Queen Elizabeth II Fields Challenge is a wonderful initiative; councils are under tremendous pressure to build houses, particularly here in Islington where we have a very high waiting list for social housing and yet very little land. So it is especially important that we keep our green spaces in perpetuity and I hope a lot more green space is protected in this way.

Woolmer Green Parish Council are delighted to be participating in the QE II Fields Challenge. We have transformed a neglected area into a new community orchard and incorporated it with our children's playground. This project has brought together volunteers from the village with expertise who have designed and planted trees and wild flowers and children from the local school have got involved as well. This area is now preserved for future generations to enjoy.

Janet Pearce, Clerk, Woolmer Green Parish Council

"This is a fantastic project, and an important initiative in ensuring that hosting the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2012 has a lasting sporting impact. It has my full support."

Jonathan Edwards CBE lends his support to the Challenge

The QEII Fields Challenge has been an excellent chance for South Gloucestershire Council to raise the profile of our public open spaces. It has provided a catalyst for some of them to change from being dreary, empty spaces to becoming vibrant, exciting parks which are fast developing into community hubs. It has captured the imagination of residents and proved that as a council we are dedicated to protecting our open spaces for our future residents.

Katherine Kearns, Projects and Delivery Officer, South Gloucestershire Council

I agree about the importance of outdoor spaces and ensuring that people in Newham stay fit, healthy and engaged has to be a big priority and one that we must succeed at if the legacy of London 2012 is to be fulfilled.

Lyn Brown MP - Member of Parliament for West Ham

Alderton is a small country hamlet surrounded by commercial agriculture, large sporting venus and slowly encroaching towns. Every piece of land is privately owned and villagers in the past have had nowhere to go except their own property. Now, thanks to Fields in Trust, we have a green space for recreation. A space for everyone, for sport, for village events, for contemplation of nature [ we have one of the Woodland Trusts Jubilee small woods in place] and a place to breathe. We can feel assured that this space will belong to everyone forever. This, for us, is a treasure beyond measure. If any other village or town is thinking about making their playing field a Jubilee Field in Trust, we highly recommend it. The bonus for anyone involved in trying to conserve a space is peace of mind and the freedom to get on with the real work.

Margaret Hall-Townley, Alderton Parish Council

We feel so fortunate that the Trust gave us the wonderful opportunity that has enabled us to have the land accepted as a QEII Field an association that will remain with the field indefinitely.

We would like to thank you and other members of the Trust for contributing to this remarkable idea and all of the organisation and hard work that is behind it.

Nicholas Wilson, On behalf of the residents of Treloweth

"I support this cause, along with the 2012 Olympics inspiring a new generation of youngsters, local authorities need to play their part and make sure every youngster can reach their potential. Local playing fields play a key part in developing youngsters’ skills and they give them the earliest experiences of sport."

Rhys Williams, Bronze Medallist 400m Hurdles

"...Playing fields offer invaluable spaces for formal and informal activity and it is essential that these are protected for future generations. I am confident that the Queen Elizabeth Fields can play an important role in the development of community sport hubs and enhance the health and wellbeing of communities across Scotland."

Shona Robison MSP, Minister for Commonwealth Games and Sport

'"Hosting the 2012 Olympics in the year of the Diamond Jubilee is a great honour for the UK and I cannot think of a better way to pay tribute to these events than by ensuring the future of outdoor spaces across the country. I fully support the Queen Elizabeth II Fields Challenge and hope that it will play a key role in securing the next generation of sporting stars."

Sir Chris Hoy, 4 Times Olympic Champion

"Sport and Recreation Alliance is committed to ensuring that high quality spaces for sport and recreation are available for use all across the country and so we’re delighted to support this fantastic new initiative to protect 2012 outdoor spaces in the UK and wish Fields in Trust every success in achieving this ambitious programme."

Sport and Recreation Alliance

"...We have a long history promoting policies to tackle the rising levels of overweight and obesity in the UK, and believe that improved sport and recreational facilities are an important strategy in doing so... Ready access to these facilities will also help to improve community cohesion, reduce anti-social behaviour and enhance general health and well-being. "

The British Medical Association

"Being able to play outdoors is a basic right of childhood. The Queen Elizabeth II Fields will guarantee that millions more children are able to enjoy that right both now and in the future"

The Duke of Cambridge, Patron of The Queen Elizabeth II Fields Challenge

"Local playing fields are the grassroots of football and the breeding grounds of our future stars. These fields have provided somewhere for generations of players to practice and develop their skills and I fully support this project to secure more and more fields for generations to come."

The late Jack Taylor, JP OBE - Former FA Cup & World Cup Referee;

"RFL is pleased to be able to support this great new campaign to protect outdoor spaces from future development. Ensuring the future of the grassroots game is dependent on access to and investment in pitches and facilities and so we hope to work closely with Fields in Trust to be able to bring these benefits to rugby football league."

The Rugby Football League

Our recreation ground is hugely important to our community and we are delighted that it is protected as a Queen Elizabeth II Field. The Fields in Trust programme is one of legacy and celebration and we’re looking forward to getting our community together to celebrate in a big way!